15 Dec 2020
Doherty Institute researchers supported through $8.4 million from NHMRC
In a competitive National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding round, researchers from the Doherty Institute have received more than $8.4 million through the Ideas Grant scheme to further significant infectious diseases research.
University of Melbourne Dr Linda Wakim, a laboratory head at the Doherty Institute was awarded an impressive two grants to further her research into Staphylococcus aureus infection and influenza.
“This funding allows us to push forward with our current work developing influenza virus vaccines that can provide long term protection. It also allows us to start a new project which explores how to prevent secondary bacterial pneumonia, a serious and often life threatening complication that can occur following a bout of flu,” Dr Wakim said
University of Melbourne Professor Scott Mueller, a laboratory head at the Doherty Institute, was awarded $1 million from the NHMRC for his project that will enhance anti-cancer immunity through targeting nerves in tumours.
“Our NHMRC grant will examine how stress impacts how the body fights cancer. Specifically, we are investigating how nerves in tumours impact anti-cancer immune responses and how standard treatments including chemotherapy and immunotherapy can be improved by blocking stress pathways,” Professor Mueller explained.
University of Melbourne Dr Lynette Beattie, Senior Research Officer at the Doherty Institute is investigating the role of gamma delta T cells in CD8 T cell immunity and was also granted $1 million.
“Malaria was responsible for just over 400,000 deaths and 229 million cases worldwide in 2019 – an effective vaccine would make a significant impact on the devastation malaria causes,” Dr Beattie said.
“I hope that with further investigation made possible through this NHMRC grant, we will advance our understanding of the fundamental immune processes that lead to immunity, and therefore contribute to the global goal of developing a malaria vaccine.”
Welcoming the NHMRC support, University of Melbourne Professor Sharon Lewin, Director of the Doherty Institute, congratulated this year’s grant recipients.
“It’s pleasing to see crucial research funded through this year’s NHMRC grants, spanning influenza, viral infections, pandemic preparedness, basic immunology and cancer immunity,” Professor Lewin said.
Despite the strong results, Professor Lewin acknowledged that the low success rate of the grant scheme this year meant that many important research projects had not been funded.
“I know that today’s announcement has brought disappointment to many investigators who have not been successful, despite their excellent work and research focus.
“The visibility of science over the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the significance of scientific research, and grant opportunities like this provide much needed support to researchers looking to understand infectious diseases and immunity to ultimately improve human health,” Professor Lewin said.
Ideas Grants
Professor Scott Mueller - $1,090,190.00
Targeting nerves in tumours to enhance anti-cancer immunity
Dr Lynette Beattie - $1,020,776.80
Gamma Delta T cells: the fourth player in CD8 T cell immunity
Dr Linda Wakim – $954,131.00
Identifying the correlates of protective immunity against invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection
Dr Linda Wakim – $816,131.00
Dendritic cells govern the balance between immunity and homeostasis to inhaled antigen
Dr Hamish McWilliam - $883,832.00
Presentation of Metabolite Antigens by MR1 Molecules: a Fundamental System of Immune Priming
Dr Brendon Chua - $866,806.50
Oleoyl-ACP-hydrolase as an early predictive biomarker for severe and fatal influenza
Dr Sarah Sharon Gabriel - $791,427.00
Characterisation and targeting T cellular metabolism to improve control of chronic viral infections
Professor Axel Kallies - $786,898.00
Molecular regulators of adaptive immunity to overwhelming viral infections
Professor Damian Purcell - $695,214.40
HTLV-1 virology and pathogenesis
Dr Jennifer Juno - $503,146.00
Harnessing T cell quality for pandemic preparedness